Activist asks HC to declare stir illegal

Social activist Mangleshwar Tripathi on Monday moved Bombay high court against Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption and other NGOs supporting Anna’s cause and asked the court to declare the three-day agitation and the Jail Bharo Andolan as illegal and unconstitutional.

Social activist Mangleshwar Tripathi on Monday moved Bombay high court against Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption and other NGOs supporting Anna’s cause and asked the court to declare the three-day agitation and the Jail Bharo Andolan as illegal and unconstitutional.

The petition will likely be heard on Tuesday, the first day of Anna’s agitation. Tripathi’s argument is that as Parliament is already debating the issue, any such movement is nothing but exerting undue pressure on the government. In his petition, the activist said it is unconstitutional and subversive to the principle of democracy to start a movement when the Bill is being debated in Parliament.

“As the court was on vacation, we only submitted the petition on Monday. It will come up in court on Tuesday,” he said. In the petition, Tripathi has requested the court that in case it permits Anna to go ahead, it must impose conditions on him to ensure no law is violated.

“If allowed to proceed, it will tear the fabric of democracy and will lead to chaos and anarchy. It is wrong and incorrect if a group [with no electoral mandate] is allowed to ride roughshod over the government and force elected representatives and legislators to accept its version of the law.” He wants the court to impose restrictions on Team Anna so that they don’t make political comments on stage.